SEABROOK — The proposed expansion of the Hanna Foods processing plant gives town officials the chance to address the odor, noise, traffic and lighting issues the site's neighbors have complained about for years.
Many conditions are likely to be set for Planning Board approval of George Hanna's request for a 25,000-square-foot addition to his present facility, located 700 feet off Railroad Avenue, the board chairman said after Tuesday night' meeting.
And a high security bond will be demanded to ensure Hanna meets those conditions.
The expansion would allow Hanna to add a more workers to produce the Middle Eastern foods and spreads — such as hummus and tahini — that Hanna supplies to grocery stores. Currently, 140 employees work the 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift. With the addition, the plant could have a full second shift.
The hope is for the company to double production within a few years, said general manager Wayne Peters.
So could their problems, say Railroad Avenue residents who have endured the strong smell of garlic surrounding the building, security lighting that floods into their homes and apartments, and noise from the plant's air conditioning and processing equipment, as well as from arriving and departing employees.
One thing neighbors were grateful to hear Tuesday night is that, thanks to successful negotiations with the Florida Power and Light, owners of the Seabrook nuclear power plant, truck traffic will be removed from residential Railroad Avenue. I
Hanna will spend $400,000 to cut a 1,200-foot road from the power plant's south access road — which is located north of Railroad Avenue — to make a new entrance for the 30 to 60 delivery trucks that could visit the plant daily in years to come.
Hanna will also cut a new 700-foot entrance road for employees about 150 feet west of the current Railroad Avenue driveway
The current driveway makes life miserable for Lynne and Kevin Borges, who endure garlic odor and 18-wheel tractor trailer trucks passing eight feet from their bedroom window. Even though Hanna Foods is in Seabrook's industrial zone, the Borges' abutting home was built long before Seabrook enacted zoning.
The Borgeses waged a lonely campaign for years to get town officials to respond to their issues. Although they say promises were made by Hanna's representatives, complete relief from the problems never occurred.
The only way Seabrook itself got Hanna to halt problems caused by garlic-laced discharge water that got into the town's sewer treatment facility was to threaten to turn off sewer service.
On Tuesday night, dozens of previously silent residents of Seabrook's 80-unit Railroad Avenue-based Housing Authority showed up at the hearing to express their concern.
Garlic is nice, they said, they use it in their food, but no one should have to live with a constant smell of garlic permeating the atmosphere at such intense levels it causes eyes to water and force residents to close windows.
Roof security lights, which shine like spotlights into bedrooms, also have to be altered, they said.
And the noise of employees and trucks — especially "those beep, beep, beeps when they back up" should be curbed.
The Planning Board listened.
Town regulations still require the company keeps noise, lights and smells from escaping its boundary lines, board members said. The Planning Board has the authority to ensure Hanna does just that if he wants his expansion.
"I have a feeling many conditions may be set on approval of this expansion," said Planning Board Chairwoman Susan Foote after the meeting. "And a high site security (bond) can be set that won't be refunded until and unless the aroma and other issues the conditions concern are dealt with."
The case was continued to the board's meeting on Tuesday, June 2, at 6:30 p.m.
